National Guard leadership a concern | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

WASHINGTON — The National Guard Bureau’s top four officers have either left or will retire in about two weeks. So far, the Senate has not confirmed any nominations for their successors. That leaves the bureau, the Air Guard and the Army Guard without permanent leadership as they head into a busy hurricane season and a potentially challenging election cycle.

Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the Guard Bureau, is retiring in early August, and Lt. Gen. Marc Sasseville, who was vice chief, has already retired. Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, who is chief of the Army Guard but has served as acting vice chief, is also retiring in early August.

The lack of progress on the nominations has become a source of concern for the agency, which oversees the training and supervision of Guard and Reserve forces deployed on federal duty for overseas combat and homeland protection. The Guard chief is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and serves as a key liaison to the adjutant generals who command state guard units throughout the country and its territories.

For example, National Guard troops from several states were called to Washington, D.C., to secure the city after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Additionally, as active state personnel, they routinely respond to hurricanes, fires and other disasters, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the retirements approach, the National Guard Association of the United States sent a letter to the leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Chairman Senator Jack Reed, D-R.I., and the top Republican, Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi.

Retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, president of the association, said Friday they were “shocked and disappointed by the process” and that the White House did not receive any Senate nominations.

He said that with the busy months ahead, having other officers temporarily serve in acting positions is not as effective as having confirmed leaders in the jobs. In some cases, he said, they do not have the same authority as those who are confirmed.

The government had known for several years that all four leaders (the chief, deputy chief, air force director and army director) would retire this summer, he said.

In March, the nomination of Maj. Gen. Duke Pirak to become the next Air Guard director was sent to the Senate to replace Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh. Early last month, Loh retired and Pirak served as acting director.

Earlier this month, the Senate received the nomination of Maj. Gen. Jonathan Stubbs, currently the adjutant general in Arkansas, to be the next director of the Army Guard, replacing Jensen.

There are no hearings or votes scheduled for Stubbs or Pirak.

Meanwhile, the nominations for the two top positions, chief and deputy chief of the Guard, have not yet left the White House.

The Pentagon has recommended Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven Nordhaus as the next chief, and Army Maj. Gen. Joseph Jarrard as the vice chief, officials said. But their names have not been sent to the Senate. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel moves.

Nordhaus currently serves as commander of the 1st Air Force and the Continental Americas Region of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which provides and controls airspace surveillance and operations for the United States.

Jarrard was the Guard Bureau’s director of operations.